Over the last number of weeks, I have noticed, as have many, the mass hysteria that is all over social media concerning the Corona virus. I am not here to say that the virus is harmless by any stretch. It is deadly and does kill people. But people are buying out stockpiles of toilet paper, household cleaners, and other paper products. Interestingly, they are not purchasing canned goods so much. One would think that if there was going to be an apocalyptic event, one would want canned goods for the shelf life aspect. But no…toilet paper is the prime concern. I find this hilarious. There are so many ways one can clean oneself up after a bowel movement if one does not have toilet paper. But that is not the way the masses seem to think about things.
The thing is that this is a form of a viral pneumonia. Now, understand that I have already survived a hat trick with pneumonia a number of years ago. I had a combination of viral, bacterial and microbial pneumonia…all at one time. Yes, I thought I was going to die…again. No, I obviously did not. There was NOTHING that could have prevented me from getting it or surviving it by way of stock piling ANYTHING. I was happy when we finally got some soft facial tissue with lotion. The small things do make a difference. But when it comes to pneumonia…you do NOT GET DIAHREA. So why the TOILET PAPER obsession?
A good friend of mine, by the name of Andrew Brown, wrote a very informative post on Face Book the other day, and this is what he had to share on the subject of preparing for the event of Corona virus:
Once. I’ll say it once, if at all possible. This is coming from an immune compromised person who lives with advanced Crohn’s disease and recurrent cancer (got one waiting to be biopsied now, and I already know it is one).
Here is how you prepare for what is about to happen.
Sit down and think, “what do I need to get, knowing there is a going to be a bad snow storm, and probably a bit of ice?” I know most of the nation can relate to this. However, I phrased it the way I did because “bad” is totally relative. Here in NC, 2″ – 3″ inches is bad.
Do your normal grocery shopping, and pick up a few *FEW* extras:
– canned foods for variety
– charcoal and fluid so you can grill out for variety
– fixings for something you can make and eat off more than once with leftovers
– a couple of treats
– don’t forget the pets
Now, that done, pretend you are going to do Spring cleaning, and make that list:
– paper towels
– window cleaner (it has ammonia in it)
– spray bleach or similar cleaner
– Kleenex (no, you won’t be sneezing other than allergies)
– regular bleach
– rubber gloves if you feel a need
– laundry soap
– people soap (you need to clean yourself, too)
– Lysol spray (and if you can’t find it, Febreeze for fabrics and to at last help with some funk and clear the air)
Promise. That should be it. No cash money? No. Places are already asking people to use cards instead of handling cash. No gas? Only if you need to fill up your car and maybe the lawn mower.
This is kinda’ frightening for most people. I understand that. But, even if things get bad, it is not going to be The Stand. Life will go on.
There is no sense in “tracking Corona virus” on an app. There is no sense in obsessing about it, because most folks now know that obsessing about something you fear just draws it closer to you faster anyway. What does go a long way is personal hygiene, and calming meditation. When we stress ourselves out about something we are automatically crashing our otherwise functional immune systems. And those with compromised immune systems need to allow themselves meditation time to get grounded and calm down even MORE than everyone else. Panic does nothing other than create more panic.
Remember that with air born viruses, everyone is at risk. It is a matter of what we can do to reduce said risk. It is not a matter of living in a bubble or a bomb shelter. Keep your surfaces and your body clean and disinfected.
I know that there are a number of men who will likely die from this virus, if one judges things by the number of men who do not wash their hands after visiting a men’s room. And there are a number of cooks who, after tasting the sauce with the same spoon they proceed to stir with, will either contract it or spread it. It is the day to day habits that people have that will kill them. It is the habitual nose picker, the person who licks their thumb to turn a page, and those who bite their finger nails after using paper money or punching the keys on a debit machine. It’s the person in the fast food restaurant who sneezes over the food they are about to give to a customer. It is the child who never covers their nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing. All of these are ways in which germs and viruses get spread. And the preventable things that we can do every day to stop that are what will make the most difference.
Teach people better, demand better behavior. Step up when it comes to your own habits and make sure that you are not putting yourself or anyone else at risk. And definitely do not participate in the mass hysteria.